NO ONE wants a flabby or bloated belly and having one can increase your risk of a host of health problems.

Excess fat puts pressure on the pancreas and other precious organs, so we have to be careful, to make sure that our waist stays at a safe size.

Here’s a list of foods that may be contributing to your belly fat, so you may want to think about limiting or avoiding them.

And if you want to get serious about losing belly fat that join our 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge where are all recipes and food plans are chosen to help reduce belly fat too and Elle Temple (pictured above) from Perth lost 26kg* on our plans. Read her weight loss story here.

Ditch these 9 foods to get rid of tummy fat

1. Dairy products

Lactose intolerance can range from mild to severe, but either way, gas is usually a symptom. If you are feeling bloated, try limiting the amount of milk, cheese, yoghurt, and ice cream you eat, and see if that helps. If it does, you don’t have to ditch dairy altogether. Drink lactose-free milk, or take Lactaid pills to help your body digest milk products.

2. Potato chips

One of your favourite snacks may be giving you belly fat. Most potato chip brands are cooked in hydrogenated oils. This type of oil is called a trans-fat. Trans-fat is known to increase cholesterol, contribute to heart disease and increase weight. Chips that don’t contain hydrogenated oil may have high amounts of fat from other oils they’re fried in. There are baked and low fat potato chips on the market that make better choices. However, be aware of the calorie count. High calories still contribute to belly fat.

3. Soft drinks

Soda is not only unhealthy for you, it increases belly fat. It has empty calories that add excess weight and also provides large amounts of sugars. This sugar comes in the form of  fructose and other additives. Your body has a hard time burning this sugar off, especially in the mid-section.  You may think that diet soft drink are better, but they also contain artificial sweeteners that contribute to bad health. It’s best to drink pure water to lose your belly fat.

4. Processed baked goods

So convenient, so tasty (if we’re being honest here), but so not worth it. Those pre-packaged mini muffins, doughnuts, and dessert cakes will add tons of calories and loads of unwanted sugar to your diet, plus they aren’t easy to digest. These foods are bad on so many levels, because they are filled with high sugar content and preservatives for a longer shelf-life — they can literally sit there forever! Sugar increases inflammation, which is not only bad for you but can also make you look puffy and bloated. Skip the wrapped stuff and grab fresh fruit for a sweet fix instead.

5. Fried foods

Deep fried chicken and french fries taste good, but they will not do your stomach any favour. Fast food, for example, is usually greasy and has very little vitamins and minerals or fibre. Instead, it is loaded with sodium and trans-fat which manifests itself in your stomach. If you must have fast food, choose more healthy options from the menu.

6. Margarine

Choose a small amount of regular butter or soft spread over margarine when topping foods or baking! Margarine is usually loaded with trans-fat and is found in plenty of pastries, crackers, snack foods, and even microwave popcorn, so limit intake to keep cholesterol levels in check.

7. White flour and rice